Oh! The Places You’ll Go: Nathan’s Garden

By Alexandra Johnson, The Dartmouth Staff | 4/14/14 3:00am

Spring has finally sprung here in Hanover, which inevitably means that the Green is seeing its fair share of Frisbee games, picnic lunches and adorable local tots who are out to play. If you’re looking to enjoy some fresh air without the facetime, head down Maple Street to Nathan’s Garden. The botanical garden is tucked in a small valley at the intersection of Maple Street and Downing Road.

The garden is dedicated to Nathan Hall, who died while swimming in a nearby quarry in 1991 at the age of 19. After his death, the Hall family built the park in a portion of their backyard in Nathan’s honor. Though small in square footage, the garden is beautifully landscaped with flowers and plants. A small pond rests in the center of the property, dotted with lily pads in the warmer months.

Hidden halfway up a hill in the garden is a gazebo with hanging wind chimes. Inside the gazebo you will find a journal in which many visitors leave notes for others to read and enjoy. In the summertime, those who tend the garden leave sunscreen and bug spray in the gazebo to encourage visitors. There are plenty of spaces throughout the garden to sit and reflect on the meaning of life, my personal favorite being the wooden swing set.

I can think of fewer tranquil places in the Hanover area than Nathan’s Garden. Mere minutes from campus, the serene space feels miles away from the fast-paced Dartmouth bubble. Whether you’re looking to spend an entire afternoon reclining in one of the Adirondack chairs or are just passing through for a quick stroll, a trip to Nathan’s Garden is guaranteed to lift your spirits and make you breathe a little deeper.


Alexandra Johnson, The Dartmouth Staff